Lyssarides to visit Syria to discuss illegal sea routes

Honorary President of the Social Democrats Movement EDEK Vassos Lyssarides will be flying to Damascus on October 20 as an envoy of President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, for talks regarding the illegal sea routes between Latakia, Syria, and the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta.
”If everything goes well, I will be in Damascus on October 20,” Lyssarides said after a meeting with President Papadopoulos.
Lyssarides said he exchanged views with President Papadopoulos on various issues, especially in view of his trip to Damascus.
”These issues need careful handling and the common aim is to lift any negative consequences and to establish the traditionally friendly relations that existed and we believe still exist between Syria and Cyprus,” Lyssarides noted.
Last month a Turkish cruise ship sailed from the closed port of Famagusta for Latakia.
Moreover, a company in the occupied areas announced two special routes on 11 and 14 October for the Ramadan Bayram celebrations and from 18 October onwards it will start scheduled routes.
Nicosia has sought explanations from Syria to ensure that such an incident will not occur again and that no agreement has been reached between Damascus and the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus on permitting vessels to travel from occupied Cyprus to Syria.